Jawaharlal Nehru University(JNU) is a central university known for its renowned research and faculties on applied science and liberal arts established in the year of 1969 in New Delhi. Currently it is in the process of setting up a Center in the name of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar and academic chair to conduct research for mending the gap between economic and socio-political inequalities in India. The DAIC (Dr Ambedkar International Center) and the Ministry of Social Justice have combined and come together to finalize the decision. The director of DAIC, Dr Vikas Trivedi at BHU (Banaras Hindu University) and the Vice Chancellor of Jawaharlal Nehru University, Santishree Dhulipudi Pandit signed the agreement recently.
• Details of the establishment:
In a recent social media post, the official page of JNU declared that the centre will be largely focused on the growing unequal conditions among people from different economic and socio-political backgrounds and what measures can be exercised to bridge this gap in as many areas as possible. The MoU was signed in the presence of the governor of UP (Uttar Pradesh), Anandiben Patel, Union Minister of Social Empowerment and Justice, Dr Virender Kumar and the Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment of the state, A Narayanaswamy.
The university recently celebrated its day of foundation on 22nd of April. The vice-chancellor congratulated the colleagues as well as the students of the university in lieu of the occasion of the establishment day through a letter. It read JNU being a premier institution standing proud for more than fifty years by nurturing discussions, debates and dissents about crucial topics relevant to the societal needs. The faculty and students have reached new heights in order to cherish a regular endeavour for critical questioning and free thoughts for growing in-depth knowledge about important aspects. This newest endeavour is certainly one more step in the persuasion of increasing these virtuous practices among more people.
• Objectives:
The first and foremost objective of the Chair is to serve as the discussion center for the cultural, economic and socio-political lives of the Scheduled Tribes, Scheduled Castes, Minorities, Backward Classes and various other weaker sections of our society. Beside this, the institution is also focused to regulate the researches and learning related to Dr. Ambedkar’s philosophy and works. To persuade these objectives, the Chair is set to undertake other researches focusing on disseminating and understanding the ideas of the great Dr. which are relevant to present day scenarios. Seminars, workshops, Symposia and other similar activities will also be conducted simultaneously with studying to ensure more growth and fulfil the desired objectives as early as possible.
Currently there are more than twenty Ambedkar Chairs in different academic institutions across the country. Their focus is mostly on researches in vast fields such as constitutional studies, economics, political science, education, religion, social work, gender issues, human rights and so on. This new chair at JNU will try to be at par with all these categories to create a useful platform for people to garner mental and social development. Reviews will also be conducted to from time to time to identify drawbacks and loopholes in the working of the chair and it will also be evaluated that how well the centre can comply with the university’s overall educational structure and the needs of the present practical situations in regard to its motto.